The New Zodiac Braves

"The assassin Senthose, player in the assassination attempt yesterday, has been killed," Zac said, having picked up, and pocketing the Zodiac Stone as soon as it fell at his feet. He then looked over at Vanessa, "If she is going to revive again, you should take her into custody. She might know where Seraph is."

Divum and Dawn make their way out to the main hall to see what in Ajora's name is going on, and are stunned by the bloody mess.

*Safian waves*

<Hey, it's you guys!>

Cassandra:<You got him? Amazing.>

*When Zac tries to pick the Zodiac Stone up, it shocks his hand with a sudden blast of energy. It then encases itself in a larger ball of energy & floats up to about forehead level. The Knight takes a step back.*

<What manner of devilry is this?>

*A figure that is familiar to everyone but the trio of new arrivals steps out of a haze in the air. He has rusted armor & a black cloak, with a hood like that of an executioner. His cloak is sealed on with a golden y-like symbol. He holds out his hand, & the Zodiac Stone flies into his grasp, the energy shield dissipating so that he can grab it. When Senthose's spirit reverts into a crystal, he uses a similar power to take it.*

???<Rousing speech as ever. I will make sure you're always remembered for giving your life for the Plan.>

~0~

*They stand, startled*

Safian:<Anyone know who this is?>

Azuma: "I'm in the market for a sword, but we'll take whatever comes our way."

"You!" Zac tries to shoot the fool in the leg, hoping against hope that he will be affected by status effects.

E"We don't know who he is, exactly, but he can--"

*Euryale begins rushing back down the stairs. Against hope indeed. He separates into a quartet.*

E"...Do that."

???<I haven't the time for trifles. Hand me the auracite so that I may be on my way.>

*Meanwhile, Vanessa pops back up.*
=====================================
<I see. There were a lot of battles down there during the 50 Years War. Mayhap there are powerful weapons lost in the region.>

Azuma: "The tavernkeeper in Lesalia said something similar. Maybe we'll luck out and find some other goodies as well."

Mortal eyes Vanessa, but doesn't have time to strike her down again, having to deal with the new threat. She follows after Euryale and slashes down at the closest clone.

"That's new," Zac said as he changes tactics, and just unloads a Barrage into his foe.

Noct lets out a sigh and went to dancing a Forbidden Dance.

*The clone allows itself to be cut, grabbing at Mortal's clothes. Should it find a stone, it attempts to take it. Otherwise, it teleports elsewhere. The others all draw twin katanas. One teleports to Zac & attacks, & grabs Lilith's strike when she tries to retaliate. Vanessa looks around & then runs deeper into the mansion. When the Lionsguard tries to intervene, a clone casually gestures at him, & a beam of light consumes him, causing him to disappear.*
=========================================
<Mayhap.>

Azuma: "Indeed."

Sab is the only one with any stones on her, and she is invisible and backing slowly into a corner.

Mortal feels vaguely violated, and chased after the clone to double slash at it again. Zac shoots another barrage at the guy while moving back a ways to put some distance between him and his attacker.

*Safian charges Bolt on the one Zac is attacking, while Cassandra slashes at the clone Mortal is attacking*

*The clone warps back onto the balcony.*

???<Have you found anything? Either way, we can't afford to stay here any longer.>

*???'s clone either shakes his head, or if there were Stones in the house besides on Sab, holds them up. Then all of the clones teleport away.*

Safian:<That was weird.>

*Cassandra wanders back over to her*

"Dammit!" Zac said, "He got away with the Zodiac Stone."

"Uh, not all of them, I have two on me, and I don't think he saw me," Sab said.

"Where is Vanessa?" Mortal asked, "Did she get away?"

E"I don't know."

*She looks around.*

E"Did...did he kill that guy?"

L"I don't know. Do you know how he used any of those strange powers?"

*Euryale shakes her head.*

E"No. I mean, we knew he could create clones with different abilities, but we don't know anything else about him."

L"In any case, I think we've found our mastermind."

Safian:<I think she went deeper into the house or something.>

Mortal scurried off to go look for Vanessa, not wanting to see her loose.

"Where would we even begin to look for him?" Zac asked.

"Should we get the city guards?" Divum asked.

"Probably," Noct said, "Though I don't know what we're going to tell them. 'A guard died, but we don't have the body, Senthose died, but we don't have the body, and someone from the old empire is trying to restore it using the zodiac stones... but we don't know where he is.'"

L"If he's looking to restore the old empire, he would probably be looking to the seat of its power, now controlled by the Glabados Church. The provinces of Mullonde and Lionel."

E"We actually do have Senthose's body. The Mystery Man only took his crystal."

*She points to Senthose's corpse.*

L"And the wreckage of the Automatons. That must mean they're beyond even the Stones' power to repair."
===================================
*After being hacked damn near apart so many times, Vanessa leaves a trail of bloody footprints, leading to a back door. When she spots her, Vanessa is hacking at the lock.*

Vanessa<Confounded Assassin. "We have to rig the locks--they can't open from either direction, or else someone might escape.">

*She looks over her shoulder, & spotting Mortal, pushes down with both swords & throws her shoulder into the door, finally breaking it. Obviously, she makes a run for it.*

Safian:<We went looking for city guards, but all we could find was that one.>

"Stop right there!" Mortal shouted, sheathing her blades, and giving chase.

--

"Ah, quite," Noct said, looking at the mangled corpse, "Well, we were heading to Lionel anyway, were we not?"

Zac nodded, "Yes, and I suppose this gives us reason to make haste."

Sab got about two words into the chant for Hasteja before she realized Zac was just using a figure of speech. Noct had caught her chant and giggled at her.

L"Yes, but we were going to go with--"

E"Oh no! You don't think that Senthose got Aroma & Siegfried already, do you!?"
----------------------------------------------------------------
<Oh, yes, so you can have me thrown into the scenic dungeon where I'll either remain for the rest of my life, or be brought out to be hanged for the rotten aristobrats to laugh & throw stones at my body, which may or may not still be partly alive. And I do so love surprises. I'll get right back to you on that after my morning jog.>

*She runs away faster.*
====================================
*Speaking of, around this time, Aroma is checking out of her inn, when she hears that a parcel has been transferred to her from another inn in town. She accepts, & opens, it.*

Mortal sprinted faster, "You will stand and face punishment for your crimes, of that I'm certain, but you can't leave before telling us what you know!"

--

"I don't know, but we should probably find out," Zac said.

"Wait, Siegfried?" Divum asked, "What does he have to do with any of this?"

"We met him at the celebration yesterday, and he agreed to help us on our endeavors," Noct said.

Inside is a letter from Taiyo and a set of silver bangles. She apologizes about the night before and not being able to stay with her. She also states that they're going to Midlight's Deep, so she'll be in Lionel at some point, but she's not sure when.

The letter is concluded saying that she hopes they can at least be friends and even though they're apart they can still be together.

===================================

They finish their meal and go check out their room.